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Drunk Driving Ruins the Holidays

Drunk Driving Ruins the Holidays

Police Aim to Save Lives With ‘Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over’ Crackdown

Fullerton, CA - If you’re enjoying the holidays with a drink, Fullerton Police Department has a message for you: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over. Due to the increase in impaired driving-related fatalities around the holidays each year, law enforcement agencies across America will be actively searching for and arresting impaired drivers from December 18 to January 3.

As part of the national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement campaign period; police, sheriff and the CHP will be conducting DUI checkpoints and DUI saturation patrols during the upcoming 17-day DUI enforcement campaign throughout the region. During the 17 day campaign, the Fullerton Police Department will be conducting roving DUI patrols on 10 different nights looking to stop and arrest drivers who are impaired by alcohol and drugs. In addition to the roving patrols the Fullerton Police Department Traffic Bureau will be conducting a DUI/Drivers License Checkpoint on Friday, December 18, 2015, along the Harbor Boulevard corridor, between the hours of 8:30 PM and 2:30 AM.

There are 10,000 reasons to crackdown: in 2013, 10,076 people were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver. In December 2013 alone there were 733 people killed in crashes involving at least one driver or motorcycle operator with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher. Twenty-three of those deaths occurred on Christmas Day. California was witness to 98 deaths and another 1,852 injured in alcohol-involved collisions in December 2013.

“It’s time for all drivers to get the message”, said Fullerton Police Chief Dan Hughes. “Drunk driving is a choice you make, and when you make that choice, people get hurt or die. That’s why we’re joining with law enforcement nationwide to share the message: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.” “The safest way to get home is to drive sober or catch a ride with a sober, designated driver” Chief Hughes said.

Recent statistics reveal that 30 percent of drivers in fatal crashes had one or more drugs in their systems. A study of active drivers showed more tested positive for drugs that may impair driving (14 percent) than did for alcohol (7.3 percent). Of the drugs, marijuana was most prevalent, at 7.4 percent, slightly more than alcohol. Everyone should be mindful that if you’re taking medication – whether prescription or over-the-counter – drinking even small amounts of alcohol can greatly intensify the impairment affects.

Law enforcement emphasizes the preventable nature of impaired driving reminding everyone that all it takes is a little planning ahead. Designate a sober driver or call a cab. But whatever you do, don’t drink and drive. The California Office of Traffic Safety DDVIP (Designated Driver VIP) mobile app is now available for free download on iOS and Android devices. Launched last year, the new DDVIP app offers enhanced features, allowing users to “Map a Spot” with their current location to find DDVIP partnering establishments in their area or a “List of Spots” to search all participating bars and restaurants throughout California. Users will be offered free incentives at each bar to celebrate their life saving role. They can stay up-to-date with the latest from DDVIP and see what other users are saying via its social tab. Also through the app, for those who want to imbibe but also make it a point to plan ahead, users can easily order a sober ride from Uber, Lyft or Curb – all from one screen.

Plan a safe way to get home before you attend the party. Alcohol impairs judgment, as well as reaction time. If you’re impaired you’re more likely to choose to drive drunk.

Designate a sober driver; take public transportation, a car service, or a call a sober friend of family member to get home.

Walking while impaired can be just as dangerous as drunk driving. Designate a sober friend to walk you home.

If you see someone you think is about to drive while impaired, take their keys and help them get home safely.

If you’re caught driving impaired you could face jail time, fines, loss of driver’s license, towing fees, and other DUI expenses, totaling $10,000 on average. That’s not a small price, and that doesn’t even count the heftier price you could pay: the price of your life or someone else’s.

In addition to reminding all drivers to drive sober, Chief Hughes is calling on everyone to be alert and report drunk drivers – Call 911! If you see a dangerous driver call immediately! If someone you know is about to drive after drinking, take their keys and help them get home safely. “We’ve got to work together to make our roads safer this December and year-round,” he said.

Remember, driving after drinking should never be an option. Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.

Funding for this holiday campaign is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.